The Asher Chronicles: January 2012

Your first birthday was perfect. And I really do mean that. Every single person who loves you came over and watched you tear open presents and taste test a cupcake. The cake I made was a complete disaster but it technically wasn't for you so it didn't tarnish the day in any means. You had so much fun that about half way through you passed out and slept till everyone was about to leave. I wouldn't change a single thing and I hope that every one of your birthdays is as great as your first. Grandpa took all these pictures for us to remember this awesome day:

Perfect Group Photo!

My dearest Asher,

Very early this morning, 365 days ago you were born. That is CRAZY my little nugget. When I think about all the things I should be writing down right now, I get a little overwhelmed with the desire to run in the other room and wake you up by squeezing you. These days I squeeze you A LOT. You are going through this mommy phase more than ever right now and I won’t lie – I LOVE it. You want to always be near me and can now actively seek me out in the house so there is no hiding anymore. Not like I would. So let’s see, when I’m 90 and rereading this, I want to remember all this about 1 year old Asher.

You:

Are so cuddly and smiley. Strangers wherever we go comment on how happy you are and of course how adorable you are.

Crawl faster than the speed of light – seriously that quick.

Are so beefy and edible that sometimes I annoy you with all the kisses I give you in a day. Look at the pictures, you are a gorgeous child.

Demand to sleep in the crook of my arm at night. I’m already mourning the end of this.

Walk in these short bursts. Crawling is definitely still your desired form of movement.

Scream. Loudly. All the time.

Talk all the time. You are a VERY vocal baby. Constantly babbling and cooing. You take your little finger and point at things and say "This?". You say dadadada and mama and I swear sometimes I think you say dog.

Do this adorable shake your head thing. Dad and I sit in front of you and shake our heads and say No. No way. You can’t make me. (I don’t know why we say that. We just do.) and then you laugh and shake your head back and forth.

Mimic people coughing. It’s hilarious. If you go cough cough – the actual sound – not the words then you mimic it.

LAUGH. Oh my god Asher you laugh SO much. I know that I’ve said this every letter I’ve wrote but you are just SO happy all the time. It is impossible to stay in a bad mood around you. All I have to do is come and sit on the floor and you crawl over and throw yourself into my lap and cuddle for a second. Then I tickle you and your laugh is just so infectious that I’m instantly happy.

Have this half curly half in your eyes hairdo. I love the curls so much that I just can’t bare to cut your hair.

Follow your sister around the house trying to win her over. She will finally let you touch her without screaming help so that is a good step in the right direction.

Eat tons of grown up food. Even though you still only have three teeth on the bottom (the top two are totally coming in as I type though), I recently started giving you whatever your sister is eating. And you know what you manage just fine. You recently discovered pizza and like your sister you LOVE it.

Can sit on my lap and read for a good 30 minutes straight. That is a big deal considering how young you are. You point to the pictures and I tell you what they are and then you tell me in your baby talk back. We read at least twice a day and it really is one of my favorites things you do with you.

Want to do WHATEVER your sister is doing. If she is painting, then in your own way make it known that you want part of that fun too. You get downright angry at least once a day when we do playdoh. You attempt to eat it every single time so I had to cut you off.

Aren’t too fond of the snow which kind of sucks for you given your birthday little dude.

Think Dad is one of the funniest people you know. He can get you to do that belly laugh that I find absolutely adorable. One of my favorite parts of the day is when he comes into the house after being at work all day and then you crawl as fast as your little body will let you over to him.

Have a scary fascination with trying to throw yourself down the stairs.

Are obsessed with trying to get things out of the fridge and dishwasher. The sharper the better.

Ummm…that is all I can think of right now.

I can’t wait to see how you grow and all the things you are going do and say in the upcoming year. You and your sister bring me happiness that I never knew existed before having you guys. You make me smile bigger everyday and I absolutely adore you. I love you more than any word could ever describe.

Mommy